US politician barred from SA trip

2009-10-01 08:06

Kobus Pretorius

Cape Town - A controversial former member of the American congress and a 2008 presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney, was abruptly removed from a South African Airways flight on Tuesday.

McKinney, who stood against President Barack Obama at an early stage in the race for the US presidency, was barred from boarding an SAA flight to Johannesburg in Washington DC.

She would have travelled to South Africa to act as international guest speaker on the Channel 4 network's first Palestinian Struggle and Human Spirit film festival, which will be held in Athlone from Friday to Sunday.

Passport irregularities

According to SAA, McKinney was refused access to the flight because there were irregularities with her passport.

She became known worldwide when, in her capacity as senator, she introduced articles of impeachment against former US president George W Bush, former vice-president Dick Cheney, and former secretary of state Condaleezza Rice, over the 9/11 attacks and their roles in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

McKinney was recently arrested by the Israeli navy for participating in a Free Gaza Movement boat trip in protest against the occupation of Gaza.

Channel 4 said on Wednesday it is still unclear whether she will be allowed to enter the country.
 

- Die Burger